The ICC T20 World Cup is the international championship of Twenty20 International cricket. Organized by cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament consists of 16 teams, comprising the top ten teams from the rankings at the given deadline and six other teams chosen through the T20 World Cup Qualifier.
Brief History
The first edition of the ICC T20 World Cup was held in 2007 in South Africa. Since then, the tournament has been held every 2 years up until 2021. After 2007, it was held in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2022. So in total, 8 editions of the T20 World Cup have been held so far.
Editions Held
Here is a list of all the T20 World Cup editions held so far:
| Year | Host Country | Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | South Africa | India | Pakistan |
| 2009 | England | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| 2010 | West Indies | England | Australia |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | West Indies | Sri Lanka |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | India |
| 2016 | India | West Indies | England |
| 2021 | UAE/Oman | Australia | New Zealand |
| 2022 | Australia | TBD | TBD |
As seen from the table, the tournament has been held in different countries around the world. The inaugural edition in 2007 was held in South Africa. India won the first title by defeating Pakistan in the final.
Pakistan won the next edition in 2009 beating Sri Lanka in the final in England. The 2010 edition was held in the West Indies where England lifted their first T20 World Cup trophy.
The 2012 edition returned to Asia and was hosted by Sri Lanka. The West Indies emerged victorious beating the host nation Sri Lanka in the final.
Bangladesh hosted the event for the first time in 2014. Sri Lanka won their maiden title defeating India in the final.
The 2016 edition was held in India for the second time. West Indies became the first team to win the title twice, defeating England in the final.
Most recently, the 2021 edition was held in UAE and Oman due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia won their first ever T20 World Cup title, beating New Zealand in the final.
The next edition of the T20 World Cup is currently underway in Australia. The final will be played on November 13, 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Most Successful Teams
Looking at the winners over the years, the West Indies team has been the most successful with 2 titles in 2012 and 2016.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and Australia have won 1 title each over the years.
Here is a summary of the wins by team:
| Team | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| West Indies | 2 |
| India | 1 |
| Pakistan | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 |
| England | 1 |
| Australia | 1 |
The West Indies are the only team to have won the title more than once. Their wins in 2012 and 2016 make them the most successful team in T20 World Cup history so far.
Memorable Moments
Over the years, the T20 World Cup has produced some thrilling matches and memorable performances. Here are some of the iconic moments from the tournament’s history:
Yuvraj Singh’s 6 sixes (2007)
In the inaugural edition, Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh created history by hitting 6 sixes in an over against England’s Stuart Broad. This stunning feat of hitting 36 runs in one over remains etched in cricketing folklore.
Carlos Brathwaite’s 4 consecutive sixes (2016)
In the 2016 final, West Indies needed 19 runs from the last over against England. Carlos Brathwaite incredibly smashed 4 straight sixes off Ben Stokes to remarkably win the title for West Indies.
India’s bowl-out win over Pakistan (2007)
The first ever T20 World Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended in a tie after a thrilling contest. India won the resulting bowl-out 3-0 to claim a memorable victory.
Michael Hussey’s blitz in the 2010 semi-final
Chasing a stiff target against Pakistan, Australia looked down and out at 8/107. Michael Hussey played a sensational innings of 60 runs from just 24 balls to take Australia to an unlikely victory.
Sangakkara’s record score (2014)
Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara smashed an unbeaten 124 against the Netherlands in 2014. This remains the highest individual score in T20 World Cup history.
Memorable Performances by Players
The T20 World Cup has seen several brilliant performances by players over the years. Here are some of the all-time great T20 World Cup performances:
Yuvraj Singh (India)
Yuvraj Singh is the icon player of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup winning campaign. His stunning 6 sixes against England followed by a blistering 70 off 30 balls against Australia made him the Player of the Tournament.
Chris Gayle (West Indies)
Chris Gayle has been one of the most destructive openers in T20 cricket history. His record-breaking 117 off 57 balls against South Africa in the 2007 edition remains one of the all-time great World Cup knocks.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
Dilshan was the best batsman of the 2009 edition scoring 317 runs from 9 innings. His 96 off 57 balls in the final against Pakistan won him the Player of the Tournament award.
Shane Watson (Australia)
Shane Watson was sensational in Australia’s 2010 T20 World Cup win. He amassed 249 runs with the bat and took 11 wickets with the ball to be named Player of the Tournament.
Virat Kohli (India)
Kohli was the shining light for India in their 2014 T20 World Cup campaign. His classic 77 not out off 58 balls took India to the final and he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.
Marlon Samuels (West Indies)
Marlon Samuels produced an incredible all-round performance in the 2016 final to power West Indies to their second title win. His 85 off 66 balls and bowling figures of 2/35 won him the Player of the Tournament award.
A Look at Team Records
Over the years, several teams have produced memorable performances and set benchmark records at the T20 World Cup. Let’s look at some of the major team records in the tournament’s history.
Highest Team Total: 260/6 by Sri Lanka vs Kenya, 2007
Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 260/6 against Kenya during the 2007 edition. This remains the highest team total in any T20 World Cup match.
Lowest Team Total: 39 all out by Netherlands vs Sri Lanka, 2014
The Netherlands were routed for just 39 runs against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack in 2014. This is the lowest total in T20 World Cup history.
Highest Successful Run Chase: 230/8 by West Indies vs South Africa, 2016
West Indies successfully chased down a target of 230 against South Africa in 2016. This epic chase is the highest successful run chase seen in a T20 World Cup.
Most Consecutive Wins: 9 by West Indies, 2012 to 2016
Between 2012 and 2016, the West Indies enjoyed a streak of 9 consecutive T20 World Cup wins. This is the longest winning streak by any team.
Highest Wicket Taker: 39 wickets by Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
Iconic leg spinner Shahid Afridi tops the chart with 39 wickets, the most by any bowler in T20 World Cup history.
Conclusion
The T20 World Cup has created several memorable moments and seen some stellar performances in its 8 editions held so far. Going by the history of the tournament, the West Indies have been the most successful team winning 2 titles so far. Players like Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson and Marlon Samuels have produced all-time great performances at the T20 World Cup over the years. Some of the iconic team records include Sri Lanka’s 260/6 total in 2007, West Indies 230-run chase in 2016 and Afridi’s record of 39 wickets. The T20 World Cup continues to showcase exciting cricket and produce unforgettable moments as the shorter format of the game evolves. Fans will be hoping for more sensational performances and new records to be created when the top nations come together to battle for the coveted title.
